Sunday, October 13, 2013

While I'm not 20-something, I have NOT been sewing for decades. I have been sewing for just over 10 years.

I grew up with a mom who sewed her whole life but she didn't teach me specifically or give me lessons. I didn't want to learn back then. A few things naturally rubbed off by sheer virtue of being around it and probably from my one 7th grade Home Ec class but by and large, I am self-taught, through books, videos, and interacting with others on the internet ... and by just jumping in and doing it. I bought a cheap Sears machine to sew the straight seams for living room curtains I didn't want to pay hundreds of dollars for. And then the spark was lit. (My mother was shocked as she had long given up.)

I'm not out to discourage anyone from sewing, from buying a specific pattern line, or from creating a pattern line. I've been giving my opinions about one pattern. You know what they say about opinions, and you are free to take mine ... or leave them. But when reviewing a product, I don't believe in saying only nice or popular things. I prefer to be thorough and truthful. In the end, though, it's still only my opinion.

I've sewn a number of indie patterns, such as Hot Patterns, Pamela's Patterns, and Colette's freebie Sorbetto, and my own created with Pattern Master Boutique. I've been honest about those experiences too, and two of my favorite patterns are HP's Sunshine and Pamela's Magic Pencil. I've also sewn Ottobres, Jalies, and probably a few others I'm forgetting at the moment. I'd love to try them all. Alas, I'm not rich. But when I do get my next one, whatever it may be, you can count on another honest opinion.

I don't mind PDF patterns and taping together 65 sheets one little bit. I can tape those sheets together in roughly the same time as it takes me to unfold and press tissue and then find the pieces I need.

I'm not really sure where I stand on feeling a responsibility, obligation, or opportunity (or whatever word you want to use) to contact an owner of a company whose product I'm talking about but part of me thinks that if you put something out there for sale at a high price point, it should pass muster. I'm fairly sure I don't want to pay the pattern price to be part of a "community" to give feedback that IMO should have been part of a testing process before release.

On the flip side, they could always contact me to test prior to release. ;-)

32 comments:

My two cents is that I value and appreciate what both you and Cake Patterns bring to the table, and I'm glad we live in a brave new world where newer pattern companies can be launched and where experienced and inexperienced users can try them out and provide honest feedback. The downside to the general supportiveness of the online sewing community is that sometimes we can't break free of our boosterism to provide objective feedback.

I haven't bought or tried a Cake pattern, though I have admired many examples of others' projects online. I find the price point on Cake and other independents to be high enough that I'd usually rather alter a pattern I already have to incorporate a cute feature of an independent pattern than to shell out for the independent product. But I realize that if everyone did that, the independents would not be there to provide that inspiration!

In my opinion, your feedback was fair, balanced, appropriate and very helpful. Thank you so much for what you do and how you do it!

I love honest reviews. Thanks for not just saying it's a wonderful pattern if you don't think so. Sometimes less experienced seamstresses don't know it's not well drafted. Please keep they honesty coming.

I am a follower, but not much of a commenter. I have been frustrated purchasing patterns that are not accurate. I value those who have the talent to draft patterns, but this is my hard earned money that is wasted when the pattern is not accurate.

I also think of new people who are learning and will never try again, thinking they cannot do it, when it may have been drafting errors and it is not just the independent designers who have errors.

Thank you so much for sharing your talents and eye towards drafting of patterns.

Honest feedback is what raises the standard. I appreciate that you took the time to share your experience with the pattern. We all know that is just not the indies that have problems with the drafting (Big 4 anybody?) I'm just surprised that you have only been sewing for such a short time! You really have embraced the sport!

Honest reviews are much much useful to everybody and I'm glad to read yours.

Pattern companies can continue to look for reviews about their products IF they want to improvize their products and to reach a wider audience. Buyers have no obligation / responsibility / opportunity whatsoever to get back to the pattern maker unless they want support or a refund.

Thank you for making an honest review!! Pattern makers should have testers making different sizes and correcting problems before offering the patterns for sale. Sewing patterns are no different than knitting patterns that leave out part of the directions; it makes it difficult for consumers to finish an item and really turns them off from using that pattern company again.

There is nothing that irritates me more than a pattern I paid for that has mistakes. It's like a recipe with transposes tsp for tbsp.I always let the author know. I've let the Big4 know several times, they said I was the first person who mentioned it and yes there was a mistake.

Thank you for your honest review. I don't think there would have been the same broohaha were you reviewing one of the big four companies; we shouldn't hold young companies to a lesser standard. I wish more reviewers would take the time to as specific as you are; you've given me a heads up on checking this company's patterns, and if they're smart, they'll value you as an objective resource.

I do value your honest opinion. I am of the same mind as Ripple Dandelion who appreciates what both you and Cake bring to the table. I feel that Steph is still trying to refine certain aspects of her business including pattern drafting, style, sizing and pattern testing. By the way, she did have a call for pattern testers back in the spring and that's when I signed up and then from there it was translated into muse, though it was more just a "please have your dress finished by a certain date" than pattern testing as I have done it for other companies. Again, I feel she's still getting the hang of doing something like that, so maybe just give it some time.

In your last post, there was a general feeling of more experienced sewers = generational gap. If that is what is felt then, why didn't y'all sign up to be a tester. She didn't have a lot of takers so my feeling is that if you wanted to test the newest pattern you had the responsibility to let her know when she asked for it. Now that's just my two cents. Word.

I feel that the honeymoon phase of independent pattern companies (meaning all the love that is given to them from the online community) is coming to an end. The pattern price points, in my opinion, are getting to be way to high for very simple garment styles. And then of course, there is the drafting which can sometimes be questionable and even though many have shed some good light on pattern directions, there are many that still confound. We all want great patterns, we don't want to pay out the whazoo for them (though I would pay oodles if it fit me right from the envelope each time) and we all want or at least I want interesting styles. Leave the basics to the Big 4 - let's see some real design.

The last time I said something to the pattern maker - American girl doll sewing patterns, I was informed that their pattern had been thoroughly tested by expert sewists and my problems with their directions were not their problem.

I admire you for finding a format (blogs did not exist then) for laying out your simple truth.

Just want to add that I have always appreciated your forthright honesty and that is one of the reasons I read your blog. I felt your criticsm was offered constructively. As far as "why you weren't a tester" I totally get the time factor and other responsibilities. I would love to test patterns and have my input considered but I just don't have time, not that anyone has asked me lately. Blogs are a wonderful forum to get out what is important in our sewing universe. I do not want to buy a pattern, never mind what price, where the " pattern drafting, style, sizing and pattern testing" are still be "refined". It is just too easy to put something out there to sell without the chops so Caveat Emptor.

Thanks again for your opinions, Debbie. They come from one whose skills and abilities I respect.

Thank you so much for the honest review. If all I ever hear are positive comments, then when/if I have a problem with a pattern, I'm going to think the problem is with me. After a while, that frustration might cause me to just throw in the towel. And I've been sewing for years; I can just imagine the new sewist without reliable resources to fall back on.

Yours is one of the few blogs where I can always trust that the information is honest and accurate; I have learned so much from what you've shared with the sewing world. Please don't ever stop.

Oh, and as TLo would say; "Girl, that is NOT your dress" (it's not mine, either! :)

Oh, and the whole "why didn't you sign up to be a pattern tester" argument? Ridiculous. Is that what is required to provide an acceptable critique? There's a whole website devoted to *pattern reviews*, where most of us weren't pattern testers. :-)

Gee, maybe you hadn't heard of these patterns until recently (I hadn't). Maybe you don't follow that blog. Maybe you had other priorities. Sheesh!

Thanks again for the honest review. I've followed StephC since some time before Cake started and, of course, I hoped for success. I think there has been some, but there is farther to go. (I suspect that she would agree). That said, the comments suggesting that anyone with a complaint should volunteer as a tester are misplaced, IMO. I am a consumer and patterns are mass-market products. I don't have the time or means to be a tester, and I don't have enough skills/experience to provide the kind of *quality* feedback that a company like Cake or other indies really need.

Heh, I admit that I'm a bit of a Cake cheerleader, but I also appreciate an honest review. Things can't improve (for the sewists trying to sew the garments and the designers who create them) if honest reviews aren't given. I've been thinking of doing a follow-up on the garments I've made lately (including Cake patterns) to give my thoughts on them after the New And Shiny has worn off, and show which garments I reach for and which stay in the closet (and why).

I have to say WOW about your speediness and patience taping together patterns! I just did Grainline's Archer in two big sessions, and it took me hours to do (and I cursed it the entire way)! Kudos!

Honest reviews are the best reviews. I'm not spending $20 on a pattern I have to print and tape. No way. I will look at pictures and alter a pattern I own if the detail impresses me.

I downloaded printed and taped a Hot Patterns freebie, and goes together as it ought to. I'd undoubtedly be wearing the blouse right now if I had not cut it from a new to me fabric that does not keep its markings worth a darn. Everything I sewed, I must unpick. that's my fault. The freebie works well enough that the next time i drool over one of their patterns I'll probably buy it.

I feel I learn a great deal from your honest comments on patterns. I find it frustrating that so many people seem to feel that constructive criticism is mean. I appreciate honesty even if I would rather receive a different message, and I would hope that the cheerleaders for Cake patterns would be able to see the value in your comments. I don't think it is reasonable to say that you should have stepped up to be a tester before the pattern was released. Why? The onus is on the pattern maker to find appropriate testers who can give useful feedback before releasing their products for sale.

Please keep your opinions and your reviews honest ! You are needed in the blogging world. Many of us count on your experience and knowledge. There appears to be a generational divide amongst sewists that is probably indicative of a much greater issue. Those of us with some experience were taught to sew following rules and systems. If our work was not acceptable we were told to rip it out and do it again. We started with the basics and progressed. Praise from teachers, instructors, and mothers was worked for. Today new sewers are jumping in without instructions or mentors. Everything they do is fantastic. If you say otherwise, they will delete your comment and unfollow you! Only praise is honest. Criticism, constructive or otherwise, is mean and punishable. They are without the basic skills to insert a zipper, yet are able to design and sell patterns. http://zaaberry.blogspot.ca/p/shop.htmlThey lack the knowledge to sew a smooth seam without puckers yet they have the nerve to post a tutorial on how to sew.http://www.brassyapple.com/2013/09/diy-refashioned-dress-to-blouse.html

We can continue to support each other, including new sewers, with honest , informative feedback. It doesn't have to be mean or catty.Then when you get a compliment you know it is meaningful.

No you should not have to contact the pattern company first. They should contact you. Linda MacPhee of MacPhee Patterns spoke about running a small business. She stressed that business owners needed to speak to customers looking for feedback. You learn from negative feedback. Cake patterns should be contacting you for input and take it to heart. They should offer you a new improved pattern at their cost. That's how you grow your business and provide good customer service.

I think sometimes companies are aware there are mistakes in the patterns after the pattern is printed and ready for disbursement. I ask myself, "Why don't they add extra instructions to modify the pattern mistakes before it is sent out?" Or at least put something on a website to help the sewists out. For newer sewists what you don't know can hurt you, and you have no idea why or how to fix it. That being said, reviews of a pattern are very helpful.

Are you talking Tina Givens?( I will name names!) My girlfriend bought several from her (without asking me- I MAKE patterns!) There were tears and tantrums from the next room because pieces did not fit together.

You are valid and have a right to communicate the inaccuracies with the pattern makers.

Totally agree with those who stated that too many people feel that all criticism is rude. Maybe these are the same people who were raised to believe that everything they did was great and never heard anything negative and as a result cannot handle anything else as adults.

Thank you for each and every comment. I appreciate them all, but I have to be honest and let you know that I'm usually bad about answering questions. I hope you understand that there just isn't enough time in the day to do everything I want to do.

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